Located in:
- II. Strategic Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include a Strategic Planning Elements section that analyzes the State’s current economic environment and identifies the State’s overall vision for its workforce development system. The required elements in this section allow the State to develop data-driven goals for preparing an educated and skilled workforce and to identify successful strategies for aligning workforce development programs. Unless otherwise noted, all Strategic Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs.
- a. Economic, Workforce, and Workforce Development Activities Analysis
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an analysis of the economic conditions, economic development strategies, and labor market in which the State’s workforce system and programs will operate.
- a. Economic, Workforce, and Workforce Development Activities Analysis
II. a. 1. B. Workforce Analysis (B.I - B.IV)
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an analysis of the current workforce, including individuals with barriers to employment, as defined in section 3 of WIOA.* This population must include individuals with disabilities among other groups** in the State and across regions identified by the State. This includes: Individuals with barriers to employment include displaced homemakers; low-income individuals; Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians; individuals with disabilities, including youth who are individuals with disabilities; older individuals; ex-offenders; homeless individuals, or homeless children and youths; youth who are in or have aged out of the foster care system; individuals who are English language learners, individuals who have low levels of literacy, and individuals facing substantial cultural barriers; farmworkers (as defined at section 167(i) of WIOA and Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 35-14); individuals within 2 years of exhausting lifetime eligibility under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program; single parents (including single pregnant women); and long-term unemployed individuals. ** Veterans, unemployed workers, and youth, and others that the State may identify.
i. Employment and Unemployment
Provide an analysis of current employment and unemployment data, including labor force participation rates, and trends in the State.
ii. Labor Market Trends
Provide an analysis of key labor market trends, including across existing industries and occupations.iii. Education and Skill Levels of the Workforce
Provide an analysis of the educational and skill levels of the workforce.
iv. Skill Gaps
Describe apparent ‘skill gaps’.
Current Narrative:
Indiana has seen steady employment recovery following the Great Recession. The 2016 average annual employment level for all industries was 2,487,199 annually in 2016; this is up 10.4% since 2009. This is also the highest this number has ever been. Average weekly wages have risen to $857 for all Industries.. As of December 2016 Indiana's labor force is up 1,659 over the year, and has gained 127,427 since January 2013. Indiana’s labor force stands at 3,308,196.
Indiana’s unemployment is down by 133,972 since January 2013, which is a decline of (50%). The unemployment rate dropped from a 10-year peak of 10.3% in 2009, to 4.8% annually in 2015. By 2016 the rate has fallen to 4.4%. With the exception of one month when it was equal (October 2015), Indiana's unemployment rate has been below the U.S. rate for four full years. In 2017 Indiana hit another new peak in private sector employment levels.
When looking at the education and skill level of Indiana’s workforce, rates of educational attainment continue to rise Indiana. Since 2000, the percent of the population 25 and older with at least a Bachelor’s degree rose from 19.4% to 24.1%, but approximately 750,000 Hoosiers have some college but no degree. The percent of the population without a high school diploma fell from 17.9% to 12.2%, but there are still significant portions of Indiana’s population without a high school diploma (i.e. approximately 450,000 adults (18-64 years) without a high school diploma). Certain areas of the state illustrate greater numbers at risk and in need of continued and higher education programs.
When determining what education and skill level Indiana employers are demanding, Indiana developed an education composite score calculated from several data sources including O*NET, Bureau of Labor and Statistics, American Community Survey, Current Population Survey, Burning Glass, and a survey of Indiana employers. The results of that show:
| Composite Education Value | 2017 Jobs | 2027 Jobs | 10 Yr Openings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced degree (includes Master's, Professional, and Doctoral degrees) | 2.8% | 2.9% | 2.9% |
| Bachelor's degree | 11.7% | 12.1% | 12.2% |
| Associate's degree | 13.0% | 13.3% | 13.0% |
| Post-secondary certificate or some college courses | 30.2% | 30.0% | 27.6% |
| High school equivalency | 42.2% | 41.7% | 44.4% |
| No formal education or less than high school equivalency | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
While the education composite is helpful in responding to current employer needs, the needs of employers will shift over the coming decade and beyond. To look into the changing nature of the economy, Indiana’s State Workforce Board established the Future of Work taskforce. Additionally, the Governor has established the Education to Career Pathway Cabinet to create a framework so local leaders can build and align education and training to local needs for now and the future.
A thorough analysis of Indiana’s economy and workforce can be found at: http://www.hoosierdata.in.gov/docs/annual_econ_analysis/INDIANA%20ECONOMIC%20ANALYSIS%20REPORT%20PY2016.pdf
For a Vocational Rehabilitation specific analysis, see Vocational Rehabilitation Section j at pages 117-203 below.